Gilmore Girls 5.16 “So… Good Talk”

Gilmore Girls 5.16 "So… Good Talk"
Original Air Date: March 1, 2005 (Recap date: April 7, 2008)
Recap & Discussion

Discussion Questions:

• Why is Luke so angry and off his game at the diner?
• Is Lorelai pathetic for wanting to stay home and watch movies?
• Is avoiding Emily the best plan for Lorelai to take?
• Why is Emily surprised that Rory is giving her a hard time?
• Would Emily rather get Rory to be decent by "contract" than by fixing things with Lorelai?
• Has Rory forgotten about her deal with Logan to have "no strings"?
• Do you think Lorelai dislikes Logan?
• Doesn’t Emily realize that being rude and insensitive is a two-way street, even with Rory?
• Why does Richard assume that Rory should not be angry about Lorelai & Luke?
• Do you think Lane was surprised at her own decision not to have sex?
• Why can’t Emily understand that her judgement of what is right or wrong for Lorelai do not matter? That Lorelai can judge for herself?
• Do you think Lane regrets her decision to not have sex?
• Did Logan go back to see Rory?
• Was it insensitive for Rory to go back to Yale?
• Why did Emily go to see Luke?
• Did Emily help push Luke back to Lorelai? Why? Was he still anxious about the family influence, and this unblocked that, or did he just need that push?

Gilmore Girls Episode Recap:

Lorelai calls Rory with mail envy – most of the mail that comes is for Rory. Rory is annoyed Lorelai called her cell, since that bill is astronomical. But a conversation with Lorelai? Priceless, quips Lorelai. Emily is in Europe and is sending Lorelai postcards like nothing happened. Lorelai rips it up. Rory is getting reminder cards from them about the Friday dinners.

Luke is beyond unhappy in the diner. Slamming down food and coffee. Lane tries to get Zack to take his feet off the chair and to pay for his undercooked fries to avoid the Luke rampage. When a customer complains about his order, Luke grabs him under the arms and drags him out of the diner. Zack says Luke’s eyes are "red like the fires of Mordor." Kirk thinks his burnt toast is novel, a Cajun twist. Goes great with the runny eggs and fishy tasting bacon. Luke yells at the diners who have braved their breakfasts there that they too should go to Weston’s. Some give up and leave.

Sookie asks how the Inn is booking up – 80-90% booked for the next three months. Sookie is trying to plan what food to make so she can plan ahead for when she is off to have her baby. Lorelai is on the phone with their insurance agent, since their premiums went up. She is hung up on. Emily calls, but Lorelai hangs up after "Lorelai, hi, it’s your mother." And does it again when she tries to call back. So then Richard tries, and Lorelai is quite cordial. When Richard passes the phone to Emily, Lorelai hangs up.

Lorelai’s plans for the evening are to watch all three A Star is Born versions, about the man that got away. That worries Sookie. Lorelai not having Luke, Rory or her parents, or their dinners, can’t become a crutch to be a couch potato. Though that’s how she always was, now it’s pathetic since she’s alone. Sookie suggests they go out on a girls night.

Rory orders a fancy coffee, then halts to ask how much it is first. Many permutations later, she’s left with the cheap option of a small coffee. Rory drops her change, and Logan happens to walk by then and helps her. Logan then buys Rory her coffee. Logan tells Rory he had gone to the paper to see her the other day, but when he saw she wasn’t there, Doyle cornered him before he could leave. Logan then pulls Rory to a corner to give her a big kiss.

Logan is going away skiing soon for Spring Break. He took his midterms early, for those he couldn’t get out of. Logan has a paper he needs to turn in, and Rory is dying to know his take on ethics (the paper topic). Logan isn’t keen to share it, and makes up excuses about not wanting it lost. Like with Hemingway – and they disagree about how Hemingway lost a novel. Logan promises to call Rory from the cabin.

Rory drags her four bags of laundry into the house and finds that Lorelai is already doing a load. With two socks. Lorelai promises to do some of Rory’s laundry while she’s at the Friday dinner. Lorelai gives Rory some money for gas, and Rory admits she’s having money issues. There are no jobs at Yale right now. Lorelai has checked for any jobs in Stars Hollow for the break, but Rory is not keen on the options until she hears that Andrew needs help with inventory at the book store. Rory asks to borrow some clothes for her dinner – she’s down to her "Give Bush a wedgie" t-shirt, and doesn’t want Emily to see.

Emily gives Rory a very outgoing hug that Rory does not reciprocate. Emily is making light conversation, and Rory tries to politely answer and laugh when appropriate. Emily asks Rory if she’s feeling ok, noticing how quite she is. When Richard comes downstairs, Rory is delightful and chatty to him.

Richard has brought Rory back a book – Leaves of Grass in Greek, a 100-year old copy. Rory makes her thanks known to Richard, and less so to Emily. Emily realizes she’s being cold-shouldered.

Lorelai and Sookie are ready to go, but where? Sookie can’t dance, and finds bars depressing since she can’t drink. Lorelai’s face is falling. Movies are not practical too, since Sookie has to pee a lot. Lorelai suggests they stay home. Sookie feels it’s her responsibility to make sure Lorelai goes to do exciting things, even when she doesn’t want to. But, movie night it is!

Emily edges Richard to ask Rory if anything is bothering her. Rory says there’s nothing on her mind. Then when Rory asks about the archaeology museum in Athens, which Emily had brought up earlier, Emily gets fed up. Demands to know what is wrong with Rory. Emily wants to know why she’s been pushed away all evening. Emily tries to accuse Rory’s attitude of being influenced by Lorelai. Emily wants to know why Rory is acting that way. Emily acts as if she doesn’t know what’s wrong. Emily brings up their "contract" for Rory to come to dinner and be pleasant each week.

Rory gets up to go, and asks Emily what she expected. That postcards would erase that Emily broke up Lorelai and Luke? Emily doesn’t want to excuse Rory, but Rory is standing her ground. She’ll be back next week, but leaves. Rory will do what her "contract" requires, nothing more.

Lorelai and Sookie go to Weston’s for dessert, though Sookie is sad it’s not novel to Lorelai, who is there every day for coffee. Rory comes in and gladly eats pie. Rory admits to getting very mad at Emily for acting like it was normal that Lorelai was not there. Sookie falls asleep at the table.

Rory takes Lorelai to another table and brings up Dean and how things had not gone as she had planned. With the whole sex conversation and topic. Wanting to get back to how things were before Dean, about talking about everything comfortable, Rory brightly brings up Logan. Rory is glowing when she tells Lorelai that she and Logan have "definitely started something." Lorelai catches in that they have already "started". Fast.

Rory say’s Logan’s great – beautiful and smarter than her. Rory says they have a lot in common – the paper, Yale, him being well read. Rory wants to be sure Lorelai is not uncomfortable that Logan is rich. Rory really likes Logan, and that’s what counts. Lorelai hopes to meet him again, when things are buttoned and zipped. Rory says she just wanted Lorelai to know.

"Ok. So…. Good talk."

Lorelai seems overwhelmed when she says that.

Richard calls Lorelai about what happened at the dinner. Richard is unhappy how "rude and insensitive" Rory was to Emily. Richard says there’s no excuse and wants to know what Lorelai intends to do about it. Lorelai says it’s none of her business. Richard thinks it’s Lorelai’s battle that Rory is fighting. Richard doesn’t understand what Rory has to be upset about. Lorelai says Rory loves Luke, and didn’t want to see him hurt or humiliated, nor that Lorelai be hurt either. Richard tries to excuse Emily’s behavior, but Lorelai cuts him off there. She wants no excuses. Lorelai is not thrilled, nor is Rory, about what Emily did. They are both hurt and upset. Lorelai thinks Rory has a right to be cold if she chooses, and that they will need to work it through with Rory on their own.

Richard asks if that’s it? That they’ll never see Lorelai again? Lorelai is not sure. But Richard is welcome to see her any time, she has no beef with him. Lorelai then changes the subject to her insurance woes. Is about to ask a question, but then sees that Luke’s boat is about to be towed. Lorelai spouts off an outrageous story that gets the boat a reprieve. It just needs to be moved on street cleaning days.

Luke is still very surly at the diner. Food is being destroyed, and Lane is doing her best to make sure the place still runs and customers still get served. She can’t prevent a customer from being tossed onto the sidewalk when she goes to deliver an order, though. The order is for Rory, who has been craving a burger from Luke’s. Rory’s job is costing her a fortune - she is piling up more books to buy as a result of it!

Rory says her burger is disgusting, with some surprise. That Luke is burning or dropping everything. He’s miserable, in a ‘mood’. Lane thinks it has to do with Lorelai spending all her time at Weston’s. Lane is glowing about her relationship with Zack – he is set to cook her dinner that night.

Sookie asks Lorelai what she’s doing on August 14. That is when she will be free from her pregnancy and early child rearing. When Jackson’s sister can take the kids so that Lorelai and Sookie can have a girls weekend. Lorelai jokes that 6 months is too late, she’s booked.

Richard and an associate have inspected the Dragonfly and says that the property is in top shape. Richard reviewed her policy too, and tips his hat to the "criminal genius who convinced [her] to sign it". Richard says he can help her do much better, and will draw up a new policy tomorrow.

Richard compliments Lorelai on the wonderful job she’s done there. The restoration, the rooms, the homey feel, and the stables – all smart. He points out that small Inns are fashionable, and large chains are often looking to buy them – to keep them the same, and retain management. Richard offers to sniff around for Lorelai, but Lorelai is not interested in selling.

Zack pours more "bubbly" for Lane – Pepsi, flat. The way she likes it. And he made her a pasta dinner. Zack kisses Lane, saying she’s the best. Zack says he liked Lane the day he met her. Zack says he wants "this" to be right. Lane says absolutely. They kiss a little, but then Lane shifts gears to wanting to clean the dishes. Zack says "after". It takes a little for Lane to clue in to what Zack means by "after." She pulls away startled with:

"Oh my God, you want to have sex!"

Lane gets up all flustered. Zack thought his signals were clear. Especially all the compliments and talk of a "special evening" – things he doesn’t say often. Lane missed all the signals, and even thought the rose petals lining the hall to the bedroom were just tracked in. Lane admits she missed all the clues and feels stupid. Zack feels bad for pushing. Lane says not to – they’ve been dating for four months and they live together. At 20, it should have been logical to her. Though Lane admits it’s normal, she blurts out that she has to wait until she gets married. She didn’t even realize she’d said it until it was out. Neither of them are sure if they’re ok with that. Lane goes to clean the dishes, the "least she can do" since Zack is not "getting any."

Richard is trying to talk logically to a very angry Emily. Emily accuses Richard of being happy that he’s getting all the attention from Rory and Lorelai. Emily is acting like it’s a popularity contest, and Richard calls her immature. Emily doesn’t know why Richard is not standing by her on this. Emily says she did what she did for Lorelai’s own good. Emily is convinced Lorelai is incapable of deciding what is right or wrong for herself. Richard points out that it backfired. He says that "however misguided" Lorelai’s feelings are, they need to deal with the reality of the situation. Richard points out that things will not return to normal if they both cut Lorelai off.

Lane is complaining to Rory about her unexpected confrontation with her decision to not have sex until she’s married. No other Mrs. Kim thing stuck – she plays in a band, lives with boys, etc. Lane is worried she’ll never have sex if she doesn’t get married. Lane is actually envious of Rory’s "sluttiness" – sex with two different boys in one year. Lane asks if sex is great, but Rory says "not in front of the books, Lane." Lane runs into her mom handing out flyers and yells "you’re in my head" at her.

Rory calls Logan to say they were both wrong about Hemingway – that his manuscript was stolen, not lost. Logan says he was a little bored at the cabin – that, and Finn is going through a naked phase. Turns out, Logan is back at Yale. And that it’s quiet and peaceful there – he invites Rory to cut her Spring Break short and come there.

Rory takes Logan up on his offer, and apologizes to Lorelai for leaving her in the lurch and cutting off all their plans. Lorelai hands Rory some rolls of coins to ensure she always has clean underwear. And says she’ll pay for all the books Rory bought from Andrew. Rory tries to be humble about why Logan came back, but she is happy.

Lorelai turns on the Judy Garland version of A Star is Born. Kirk is the only diner left, and he loves the mystery burnt food. Emily goes to see Luke. Luke tries to busy himself, but it’s in vain. Emily is not going anywhere. She asks Kirk to excuse them. Emily tells Luke that Lorelai is not talking to her. That battles are not new, and most have been because Emily feels she knows what’s best for Lorelai.

"But Lorelai has her own ideas about what she thinks will make her happy. [pause] She wants you, Luke. She’s made her choice, God help her. But there it is."

Emily says it doesn’t matter if she agrees with it, she can’t fight it. Luke has won.

"Go back to her. I promise I will stay out of it."

Emily then gets up and leaves. Luke doesn’t say a word.

Lorelai is watching the scene in A Star is Born where Judy Garland is singing "The man that got away." Lorelai doesn’t seem happy. There is a knock at the door. Not pausing the movie, Lorelai goes to answer it. It’s Luke.

Luke walks right in without a word and embraces Lorelai, kissing her. Lorelai is right into it, holding him close. Then she closes the door behind him, while still kissing.

Tags: gilmore girls, gilmore girls season 5, gilmore girls episodes, gilmore girls recap, so good talk, 5.16, 5×17, lorelai luke, judy garland, a star is born, emily gilmore